Overconsumption of oil, braking problems… Many motorists report problems with the 1.2 Puretech engine from Stellantis present in Peugeot, Citroën, DS or Opel. One of them, Sébastien Czerniak, has brought together 10,000 users on a Facebook page and wants to launch collective action like Renault’s “Motorgate”.
This is one testimony among many others. In May 2015, Sébastien Czerniak bought a new Peugeot 308 equipped with a 110hp Puretech engine. Five years later, with 120,000 km on the clock, he noticed excessive oil consumption (1.04l/1000km). The beginning of trouble for this resident of Pont-à-Marcq.
He went to his mechanic while at the same time Stellantis carried out a first recall after detecting a belt problem in its engines. All owners of Peugeot 208, 2008, 308, 3008, 5008 manufactured between 2013 and 2017 were therefore asked to contact a dealer, just like those driving a DS, an Opel or a Citroën C3 and C4. More than 200,000 users were affected according to the website What to Choose.
A mechanic then takes charge of Sébastien’s vehicle, in vain… The problem persists. “Two weeks later I got an alert on my dashboard telling me there was a low oil pressure,” he explains. He returns to the garage and receives the sentence: “my engine was broken, it had to be replaced.” For him, the Stellantis recall had not resolved the problem.
The amount of the operation amounts to 4,600 euros. “The manufacturer offered to cover 70% of the price,” he says. Sébastien must therefore pay 1,380 euros out of his pocket. Unfair, he says, when he assures that he has always carefully maintained his vehicle at a Peugeot dealership.
He then decides to carry out a second opinion to determine the origin of the problem in his engine. “She concluded that there was a design problem.” Sébastien then turns to Stellantis, who will end up making “a commercial gesture” to him. But he doesn’t intend to stop there…
Sébastien created a Facebook page in 2021 to bring together his companions in misfortune. “I find it abusive that a company like Stellantis blames its customers and makes them pay for their design problem,” argues the man who will lead a revolt of dissatisfied motorists. Today, this page titled PSA 1.2 Puretech Problems: Belt, Overconsumption of oil, HS engine has more than 10,000 members.
The testimonies of individuals accumulate and are similar. The manufacturer’s recalls do not seem effective, according to them. And ultimately, the stories often mention case-by-case support by Stellantis. With, most of the time, a significant outlay for the user. As Maud Lamothe illustrates in a Facebook post: “Overconsumption of oil, engine to be changed. 50% covered by Stellantis/Peugeot […] 3600 euros left to pay…”
“Brake assistance could be reduced or lost, thereby increasing the risk of an accident.”
In the Puretech Peugeot engine recall sheet
Published on the Rappel Conso website in 2020
Beyond the economic cost for the user, the problems with the Puretech engine, the subject of the company’s recall, could lead to endangerment on the road. “Brake assistance could be reduced or lost, thus increasing the risk of an accident,” noted the official recall sheet from November 2020. In total, two Stellantis recalls will concern these engines, in part manufactured at the Douvrin factory in Pas-de-Calais. Engine failures could also occur at any time.
When contacted, the communications department does not “comment” on user criticism and refers to “language elements” sent by email. These seem to place the blame for belt failure on the individual behavior of motorists. “Under certain driving conditions, some customers may experience timing belt degradation due to premature oil aging.” And added: “respecting the oil maintenance interval and using the correct oil are essential to preserve the condition of the timing belt.”
For all these reasons, Sébastien Czerniak now wants to strike a big blow. The latter approached Renault’s “Motorgate” lawyer, Maître Christophe Lèguevaques, to launch a “class action”. In other words, collective action. Information that was revealed by RMC.
The goal ? Bring together, by the end of 2023, 1,000 motorists witnessing these Puretech engine problems to launch a low-cost legal offensive against Stellantis. The site Myleo was created to bring together these consumers ready to start the process. To date, 250 people have joined this collective action. “In all, 500,000 vehicles could be affected,” estimates Mr. Lèguevaques.
If the number is reached, this collective action will be launched at the beginning of next year. The first step will consist of entering into discussions with Stellantis in order to “obtain an amicable solution” says the lawyer. In the event of refusal by the manufacturer, the lawyer will file an evidentiary summary to force Stellantis to publish documents relating to the construction of the engine.
“Because in our opinion, the problem comes from a design defect, declares Me Lèguevaques. We tend to demonstrate that Stellantis has been aware of this design defect for a long time, but does not do much and leaves consumers to face the problem. adversity.” Finally, if this summary procedure is unsuccessful, a criminal complaint could be filed for “deception on the goods” and “endangering people”.